By Press Release
This report of a meeting in Ryde appeared in the Isle of Wight Observer on November 27th, 1875. After such a comprehensive report, the final sentence made us smile.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEMPERANCE SOCIETY
On Monday evening a public meeting was held at the Town Hall, at which his worship the Mayor presided, and after he had opened the meeting, the Rev. Geo. Connor, M.A., rural deal, delivered a short address. The rev. gentleman said this was the second meeting which had been held for the establishment of a branch of the society here. He pointed out the influence our vicar would have in aiding the usefulness of the society, and also of such an energetic and active gentleman as the Mayor. He also spoke of the opposition which the society had to contend against – brewers publicly subscribing, but doing their best to establish publichouses where they were not needed. He alluded to the debasing influences of drink in the north of England, where it might be expected that now working men were earning higher wages they would be more comfortable and more sober, but they found the reverse was the case. It was very hard to be obliged to keep up so many policemen, unions, gaols, lunatic asylums, &c because of the drinking habits of the people and something must be done to check it. He thought the Mayor of Birmingham had set an example to all other mayors by appointing five superintendents to watch publichouses, for though 140,000 persons were apprehended last year for being drunk, the publicans were seldom prosecuted for making them drunk. People said that the clergy had done nothing in past; now, however, the bishops and clergy were waking up. He hoped there would be a strong branch of the society here. There was one at Newport, and there were also to be branches at Shanklin, Ventnor and Freshwater. Mr. Wylde followed with a stirring speech, in which he took up precisely the same grounds as the last speaker. Mr. Knowles also spoke at some length, and strongly condemned the Wine and Beerhouse Act, which he considered had taken drink into homes and fostered drinking habits where they had never been known before. He concluded by an earnest appeal to all to come forward and help in the good work. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Mayor for presiding, and the meeting, which was not very numerously attended, broke up.
